Road Trips To See The Best City Centers In The South | Bright Lights, Big Cities

Here is a selection of must-see stops in some of the funniest cities in the south.

A view from atop downtown St. Louis, Missouri

Fly to St. Louis through Lambert International Airport, and you will arrive in an eclectic city where your first stop is the famous Gateway Arch, the tallest man-made monument in the United States. . Walk to the old courthouse, where Dred Scott’s slavery case was judged in 1857, and visit the oldest building in the city at the Basilica of St. Louis. Take a one-hour scenic cruise aboard Tom Sawyer or Becky Thatcher, two nostalgic pedal boats that honor the characters of Mark Twain. Walk to the center to eat something and see stores and microbreweries. Explore 24 quirky sculptures and water fountains in Citygarden, an unexpected gem in the heart of the city, before continuing your way east to Kentucky.

Museums and Derby weather in Louisville, Kentucky

Follow Interstate 64 from St. Louis to Louisville, where the downtown area is full of attractions and entertainment. At the Louisville Slugger Museum, watch a baseball bat being manufactured and receive your own mini souvenir bat. The museum is just one of the 10 cultural stops of Museum Row. If you happen to walk with a magnet, stick it to one of the buildings; This is the second largest collection of cast iron facades in the nation. The culinary culture of the city is gaining notoriety, so it happens to eat in one of the popular restaurants in the city center. Even if you only have one hour to spare, do not miss a visit to Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby is held. Fourth Street Live! It is the entertainment district of Louisville, where you can end the day with live music, drinks and dancing. Do not forget to try the characteristic bourbon of the city. You will see that it is very popular here in Kentucky.

Horse Region in Lexington, Kentucky

A short car ride is required to get to Lexington, known for its love of horses and bluegrass music. The Kentucky Horse Park is the epicenter of everything equine, including several barns, museums and even retired racehorses of the Kentucky Derby. Keeneland is a historic purebred horse racetrack where you can take a tour, read in the library and watch live horse racing. And of course, you’ll have to visit one or two bourbon distilleries. Savor the famous Kentucky bourbon at the Labrot Graham Woodford Reserve Distillery (Labrot Graham Woodford Reserve), or head to nearby Lawrenceburg to see the place where Wild Turkey bourbon whiskey is made. After all that bourbon, take a night to rest before going to Tennessee.

Dazzled in the city of music: Nashville, Tennessee

You may begin to hear the sounds of bars and blues as you approach Nashville, aptly called the city of music. The center of the city is full of attractions, food and, of course, music. Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (Hall of Fame and Country Music Museum), the historic RCA Studio B and the Ryman Auditorium (Ryman Auditorium). Other must-see stops include the Johnny Cash Museum, the Patsy Cline Museum, and the National Museum of African American Music, all in the center! And just 10 minutes away is the famous Grand Ole Opry. No visit will be complete without savoring the spicy Nashville chicken, a local specialty.

Adventures in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga, family and full of history and adventure, is located between the mountains of southeastern Tennessee on the beautiful Tennessee River (Tennessee River). On the banks of the river is the Tennessee Aquarium, one of the most acclaimed attractions in the nation. From here, cross the Walnut Street Bridge, the longest pedestrian bridge in the world. At Lookout Mountain (Lookout Mountain) many outdoor adventures await you. Start with a guided tour of the caves in the highest subterranean waterfall in the United States, in Ruby Falls; then, stroll through the Rock City Gardens (gardens of Rock City) and ends with a walk along the Incline Railway (steep railroad), the steepest passenger car in the world. Complete your visit with a stop at Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Parks (National Military Parks of Chickamauga and Chattanooga) and takes an audio-tour of the famous battlefields of the Civil War. There is much to remember on your way south to Alabama.

In Huntsville, Alabama, a nod to space travel and the past.

Follow the Tennessee River to the south and then turn west to Huntsville, Alabama. Start by visiting one of the largest space flight museums in the world at the US Space & Rocket Center. Then, explore the nature trails and gardens in the neighboring Huntsville Botanical Garden. Also nearby is the US Veterans Memorial Museum, full of artifacts and equipment dating from the Revolutionary War to the present. Head to downtown Huntsville to visit the Huntsville Museum of Art and the Lowe Mill district, which houses the largest private art center in the United States. Nine beer companies supply the city with local beers; Take a map of the Craft Beer Trail and try them all. For a breath of fresh air before your final stop in bustling Atlanta, explore the trails and rock formations at Monte Sano State Park (Monte Sano State Park), just east of downtown.

Southern charm meets cosmopolitan style in Atlanta, Georgia

The last stop on this road trip through the center of the southern cities is the diverse and vibrant Atlanta. Leave the car and choose public transport to move around the center of the city. Visit the Centennial Olympic Park, created for the 1996 Olympic Games, and take a picture next to the famous Fountain of Rings. Within walking distance is the Georgia Aquarium (Georgia Aquarium), the World of Coca-Cola (World of Coca-Cola) and the headquarters of CNN. A short subway ride away is the High Museum of Art, one of the leading art museums in the southeastern United States, with the Atlanta Botanical Garden nearby. If you do not have the opportunity to fully explore the wide gastronomic, commercial and entertainment scene of the city, do not worry; Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the busiest airport in the world, is practically an attraction in itself, and you can see it before boarding your flight home

Kerrytown is a district on the north side of Ann Arbor’s downtown filled with boutique shops and dining options. The Kerrytown Market and Shops building has a fish market, wine store, produce market, butcher shop, lunch counter, yarn store, clothing store, toy store and more. The adjacent farmers market operates on Saturday from 8 to 3, with Wednesday hours starting up in May.